Lito Adiwang is moving up to flyweight to take on Argentina's Mauro "Dinamita" Mastromarini at ONE Fight Night 37.
Filipino standout Lito "Thunder Kid" Adiwang is ready to prove that it’s not the size of the dog in a fight when he makes his flyweight debut against Argentina's Mauro "Dinamita" Mastromarini at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, November 8.
The 32-year-old strawweight mainstay is moving up a division for the first time in his career, and he'll be facing a naturally bigger opponent in Mastromarini, who is dropping down from bantamweight.
But "Thunder Kid" isn't concerned about giving up size, believing his speed and fight IQ will be the difference.
"He's going to be bigger than me. I'm already anticipating that. I just need to capitalize on my speed and my power. In striking exchanges, I must come in first. In-and-out, be faster than him. My counterattacks should also be on point," Adiwang said.
The former Team Lakay product, who now trains in Bali with Soma Fight Club, has been on a mission to bounce back after his three-fight winning streak was snapped by Keito "Pocket Monk" Yamakita at ONE Fight Night 28 this past February.
Looking to turn a new leaf, Adiwang is seeking a statement performance in his new weight class.
While Mastromarini will carry a physical advantage into the ring, the Filipino is confident he can flip the script and use that size against his opponent.
"On the ground, if the fight gets there, I must scramble and get a dominant position and stay there. He thinks he'll have the advantage because he's naturally bigger, but I'll turn that into his disadvantage when he's facing me," Adiwang declared.
Mastromarini is also coming off a setback, having lost his ONE Championship debut to Filipino Carlo "The Bull" Bumina-ang via first-round TKO at ONE Fight Night 34 in August.
The Argentine brings a well-rounded game, including eight knockouts and six submissions.
But Adiwang has done his homework and believes he's already solved the puzzle.
"He's well-rounded, and I respect his striking and his grappling. But I believe I'll come in fresher, and I can see his moves. I read him already, so I don't see myself having problems dealing with his pressure," Adiwang said.
The two-time Philippine National Wushu Champion is taking a calculated approach to his flyweight debut, confident that his preparation and attributes will overcome any physical disadvantages.
"This time around, I played it smart. I may be smaller than my opponent, but I know my strength, my power, and my cardio are on point. That's what matters to me," Adiwang concluded.